The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-12-24
The Wild and wooIIy West.

While in Manton the past week the
TIMES reporter had the pleasure Of
meeting Mr.. A. II. Barney, Of Montana
territory. who is visiting at Mr.. A. o.
Coates Mr.. Barney il "A native of Ver-
mont, but was for some years "A resident
OF Providence, where he was employed in
the well known establishment Of W. Il.
Barrett * Co. Twelve years ago he
emigrated to the great Northwest and is
now one Of the most extensive and
prosperous wool growers in Montana.
Mr.. Barney is evidently used 10 being
questioned about his adopted territory,
and answered the numerous Inquiries Of
the reporter with the utmost patience.
"winters like this are rare in your
country, 1 imagine" "Well. Montana
isn't hot country in winter. We have
cold spells when the mercury will go
down to 30 below; but you don't feel the
cold as much on account Of the dryer air;
why, i have just come from Vermont,
where they have several feet Of snow, and
the dampness there makes zero worse
than 80 below in Montana" slow about
the billiards. we read off, qucried the
reporter. ''Oh, we get an occasional
blizzard and accounts Of them arc not
much exaggerated; they are ugly things
10 be out in" as your territory filling
up with settlersT "Yes, Montana is
growing quite rapidly, they have built
considerable railroad there within the
past few years, mostly short, local lines.
which Of course help the growth Of the
territory" "You do not live in town,
supposer "No, our business doesn't
allow that; we are six miles from the
nearest post Office and one hundred miles
from the trading post that is our base Of
supplies. We are on Il daily stage line,
however" "Tbe Presidents message
didn't seem TO please men in your bust
| ness" said the reporter, approaching the
| subject Of wool" "No. any move towards
the reduction Of tho tariff ON wool is not
pleasing to us. We could not compete
with Australian wool growers if the duty
was taken off the foreign article" "Is
wool growing the important business of
your territoryr "Yes sir, Montana In
| IA grazing country and can never be any
thing elsej in Dakota men talk Of wheat,
| in Wyoming IL is cattle, but in Montana
sheep il the subject nearest TO most
mems hearts" "Can you give us n few
points on sheep raising3 Take your own
ranch for example" "well, we have
something over $1,000 sheep that Craze
over range about ten miles square
| they are divided into lunches of about
$500. Each bunch has its herder and
his assistant, n collie dog, and the assist
| ant IL often of more use than TIE man.
You can't herd sheep without n shepherd
| dog. Each man has cabin and n yard
or corral "IIow can you tell whether
you are losing any Of your locksr "Oh.
you can't tell to single sheep, but in
every bunch there are perhaps twenty
black sheep and six or seven bell sheen
these are counted every night and if they
are all there, it is supposed that the rest
"''' w hhb hiii'l VI Intn 40 tnt nefu-
| mgr Oh, all kinds and nationalities
Some are good and some bad. We pay
herders $50 per month and board; IL is
lonesome work, and lacks the excitement
| Of cattle hcrding." "How much wool did
you ship this year. Mr.. BarneyT Our
clip was about 10000 pounds; half of il
was sent To Boston and the rest to Chicago.
Wool is cheaper this year, only Is cents /;
last year we got % cents" "How does
Horace Greeley's well known advice 10
the young man apply at the present
timer "For young man who has his
own way to make in the world, the West
is the place to hustle in. l am sorry
didn't take his advice long before did
and the bronzed and bearded owner Of
$4,000 sheep, who left Rhode Island in
poor health twelve years ago, babe the
reporter pleasant good evening.